San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-08-12

house, which she gave him at Coras request.
He tremblingly tore open the envelope The
note read as follows:
ain three years. CORA"
At the end Of three years his life was Just a.
void Of happiness as the day when Cora told
him II could never be.
He resolved at last 20 once again visit the
west and learn, IL possible, her whereabouts.
When he arrived at San Francisco he called
at the house where he had last seen her; she
had never been heard from, and as far as the
good lady could enlighten him, she might he
dead. Mrs. Wentworth and her daughter
told the same despairing story-she had al.
most dropped from their memory
The one great object Of life now was 20 find
her and learn from her own lips the meaning
of those odd words, ain three years"
II he faied-alasl he dared not contem-
plate the consequences. Find her he would,
IL it took years of constant search. Such Is
the love of some men, who in their constancy
sacrifice years Of happiness for the sake Of
one mortal. Not a stone was left unturned
in his untiring search for her, but to no avail
No one could be found 20 give him one ray Of
hope as regards her whereabouts But he
found her at last-found her new woman,
even lovelier than he had ever seen her.
What strange, impelling influence led him
TO visit San Quentin he will never know.
Was it a mere within, a fancy, or was It the
hand of fate striving to make amends for past
discourtesiesi
San Quentin is a small town situated on the
bay Of San Francisco. IL took him but
short time TO ascertain that there was moth.
ing there to interest his attention. But stay
the state prison is located in this small vii.
lage. Another train did not arrive for two
hours; why not pass the time therel
1t was the extravagant desire of a morbid
temperament. He had no idea that the sights
there would interest him any more than the
commonplace realities of the village itself
He repaired to the prison. The warden was
very kind and urbane-he could go through
the prison if he so desired. An usher who es.
corted him through the different departments
explained every point in the workings OF the
place, hut he listened indifferenty; he felt
that not one of the hardened criminals he
passed by could be more chopfallen than he.
In going out he had to pass by a waiting
room. He casually looked through hole in
the panel of the door that opened into that
room. In that room sight met his gaze, the
effect of which almost froze his blood
Was it Coras face he saw, or was 1t the
phantom Of his lovel
To assure himself he peered again; the truth
was very patent Her arms were entwined
around TALL manly form, but he could not
see the face, as the back was turned toward
him. The usher, noticing his wild. fixed gaze,
drew him to one side and asked him if he was
sick.
A glass of water was all that he requested,
as he sat or rather fell into a chair He told
the man that it was an attack of the vertigo.
it would soon be over. He felt as though hii
reason was fast leaving him; strange phan.
tastes shot through his brain.
That Cora loved another, and that person a
convicted felon, was his first deduction. The
horrible truth sank into his soul like poi.
soned shaft. craving for revenge on the
man he had just seen all but controlled him.
That man should never live to enjoy the
happiness that should be his.
The usher in his dismay was about to shout
for help, thinking he was Gagged with a mad.
man, when Harlow suddenly sprang to his
side and hOarsely answered:
"Who is that man in the other roomr
The latter, seeing that his companion had
subsidized somewhat in his wildness, deigned a
reply.
~ was JpLll WIZ WIS dDOuJ W Dt us
charged from prison. He had been convicted
Of forgery and had served fifteen years SEN
tence. The woman was his daughter. This
was all he knew.
The sudden revuIsion in Harlows feelings
stunned him; he reeled and would have fallen
had not the usher caught him in time; then
reason again found its way TO his brain lie
slipped a gold coin into the hand of the usher
and left the prison in a rush
He sought tree near by, whose large,
dropping branches afforded good ensconce
ment, and, throwing himself on the green
grass, began to ruminate over the exciting
circumstances which had just taken place
That indeed was one of the happiest mo-
ments of his life. His heart never beat 50
lightly before.
The words noble, grand girl" escaped his
lips in the delirum of his delight All now be
knew the reason Of her magnanimous sacri
flee; of her refusal to accept the handof the
man she loved. The filal love was paramount
to all other affections.
Why had shcnOt told him allG So great was
his love he could have forgiven everything.
He lay on the cool grass for some time turn.
ing over future plans, but was at last reused
from his biissful thoughts by the noise OF
the approaching train which was to bear him
and his love back TO San Francisco.
He watched the devoted couple until they
boarded the train, and then took seat him.
self in the rear coach. How different was the
journey back. Every object along the road
sparkled like dazzling gem; every plot OF
grass dissolved some new born charm; the very
air seemed to breathe happiness. Harlows
new life began when he boarded the train
that afternoon For reasons better known
to himself he did not see Cora Lane for two
weeks after the prison episode.
He allowed the excitement of the past few
weeks to completely die out befoI e he ventured
to see her. Then he found her end reiterated
his undying affection. They were soon mar.
ried and returned to the east, but the father
remained in San Francisco, where for many
years he led a good, useful life, and fully ex.
plated his past misdeeds. John buried the
secret of his wife deep in his heart; as regards
that his lips were forever silent Often as he
sits and gazes into her large, liquid eyes he
wonders if she reads his thoughts; but as she
never speaks of the reason why for three long
years she avoided the man she loved, he rests
contented that his secret is unknown to her.
Cleanliness of the Hands.